In the aftermath of the unprecedented chaos that marred the AFCON final on January 18 in Rabat, a rare moment of candour emerged from within African football’s corridors of power. Samir Sobha, president of the Mauritius FA and a member of CAF’s executive committee, publicly acknowledged what many observers had already concluded — that Morocco was treated unjustly.

“I want to plead with the Moroccan FA to forgive us for the injustice done to them.

The rules have not been respected, as they should have been in this match. They were robbed,” Sobha admitted. He further insisted that all Senegalese players should have received yellow cards for leaving the pitch, highlighting serious lapses in the application of the laws of the game.

For those familiar with the governance history of the Confederation of African Football, Sobha’s remarks may not have come as a shock. What stands out, however, is the blunt honesty with which he exposed what many critics describe as a culture of administrative inconsistency and ethical decline within CAF’s leadership structure.

While Sobha deserves credit for his courage in breaking ranks, heartfelt apologies alone cannot repair institutional damage. Symbolic statements, no matter how sincere, cannot substitute for accountability or due process. If justice is to transcend public relations gestures, then the Moroccan Football Federation may find its most viable recourse at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

In football — as in life — fairness must not only be preached; it must be practiced.